Going platinum in music means that a single or album has sold over 1 million units as certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). These units include permanent digital downloads, physical album sales, and streaming figures, where 150 streams count as one unit for singles and 1,500 streams count as one album sale unit. Achieving platinum status is a major milestone indicating strong commercial success and is often regarded as a badge of honor in the music industry.
How Platinum Certification Works
- A song or album must sell or have equivalents of 1 million units to be certified platinum.
- Units can be physical copies sold, digital downloads, or streams converted to sales using the RIAA's formula.
- For songs, 150 streams equate to 1 sale unit.
- For albums, 1,500 streams count as 1 album sale unit.
- Artists or their labels must apply for certification, providing proof of sales and streams.
Platinum vs Other Certifications
- Gold certification is for 500,000 units sold.
- Multi-platinum means 2 million or more units.
- Diamond certification represents 10 million units sold.
Importance and Impact
- Going platinum is a symbol of commercial success and popularity.
- It places the artist among an elite group with recognized high sales.
- Platinum certification can take varying time, from a few months to longer, depending on factors like streaming, sales, and promotion.
In summary, going platinum signifies that a song or album has reached a significant milestone of 1 million sales equivalent units, combining sales and stream counts to reflect both traditional and modern music consumption. This achievement is officially verified by the RIAA and is a prestigious marker in the music industry.
